Fall Protection Safety

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 Objectives
The purpose of this class is to provide an overall awareness pertaining to fall
hazards and methods of fall prevention and fall arrest.

Upon completion of this course, students will be able to:

• Identify fall hazards and when fall protection is needed.

• Identify methods of fall prevention as well as types of fall protection and their
basic components.
• Recognize and discuss good work practices based on OSHA guidelines and
describe the primary components of an OSHA compliant fall protection program.

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 Fall Statistics
Falls Are The Leading Cause Of Deaths In The Construction Industry
Construction's “Fatal Four” CY 2013

*Fatal Four, AKA Focus Four, are the 4 greatest hazards in construction that lead to
injuries and fatalities.

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 Top 10 Most Frequently Cited Standards
For Fiscal 2014 (Oct. 1, 2013, To Sept. 30, 2014)

1. 1926.501 - Fall Protection 6. 1910.147 - Lockout/Tagout

2. 1910.1200 - Hazard Communication 7. 1926.1053 - Ladders
3. 1926.451 - Scaffolding 8. 1910.305 - Electrical, Wiring
Methods
4. 1910.134 - Respiratory Protection
9. 1910.212 - Machine Guarding
5. 1910.178 - Powered Industrial
Trucks 10. 1910.303 - Electrical, General
Requirements

*As of 10/28/14

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 Region VI In The News

Department of Labor, OSHA Region VI

Texas, Louisiana, Arkansas,
New Mexico and Oklahoma

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TEXAS

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LOUISIANA

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ARKANSAS

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 Have you ever fallen or
known someone who fell?

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 Fall Protection Standards
Fall protection is addressed in OSHA's standards for the construction
industry. This section highlights some of the OSHA standards, Federal
Registers (rules, proposed rules, and notices) preambles to final rules
(background to final rules), directives (instructions for compliance
officers), standard interpretations (official letters of interpretation of the
standards), example cases, and national consensus standards related to
fall protection.

OSHA Fall Protection Standards can be found in 29 CFR:

General Industry 1910
Construction 1926
Maritime 1915, 1917, 1918

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OSHA Construction Standards (29 CFR 1926)
• 1926.451, General requirements (Scaffolding) [related topic page]
• 1926.452, Additional requirements applicable to specific types of scaffolds
• 1926.454, Training requirements (Scaffolding)
• 1926.501, Duty to have fall protection
• 1926.502, Fall protection systems criteria and practices
• 1926.503, Training requirements (Fall protection)
• 1926.760, Steel erection (Fall protection)
• 1926.800, Underground construction
• 1926.1051, General requirements (Stairways and ladders)
• 1926.1052, Stairways
• 1926.1053, Ladders
• 1926.1060, Training requirements (Stairways and ladders)
• 1926.1423, Cranes and derricks in construction (Fall protection)

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 Standards & Policy For
Non-Construction Work
Fall protection, for activities not in the construction industry, is addressed
in specific standards for the general industry, shipyard employment,
marine terminals and longshoring industry. This section highlights OSHA
standards, Federal Registers (rules, proposed rules, and notices), the
Regulatory Agenda (a list of actions being taken with regard to OSHA
standards), preambles to final rules (background to final rules), directives
(instructions for compliance officers), standard interpretations (official
letters of interpretation of the standards), example cases, and national
consensus standards related to fall protection.

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 General Industry (29 CFR 1910)
• 1910.23, Guarding floor and wall openings and holes
• 1910.25, Portable wood ladders
• 1910.26, Portable metal ladders
• 1910.27, Fixed ladders
• 1910.28, Safety requirements for scaffolding
• 1910.66, Powered platforms for building maintenance
• Appendix A, Guidelines (Advisory)
• Appendix C, Personal fall arrest system (Section I - Mandatory;
sections II and III - Non-mandatory)
• 1910.67, Vehicle-mounted elevating and rotating work platforms [Aerial lifts]
• 1910.68, Manlifts
• 1910.132, General requirements (Personal Protective Equipment) [related topic page]
• 1910.268, Telecommunications
• 1910.269, Electric power generation, transmission, and distribution [related topic page]

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 Shipyard Employment (29 CFR 1915)
• 1915.71, Scaffolds or staging
• 1915.72, Ladders
• 1915.73, Guarding of deck openings and edges
• 1915.74, Access to vessels
• 1915.75, Access to and guarding of dry docks and marine realiways
• 1915.76, Access to cargo spaces and confined spaces
• 1915.77, Working surfaces
• 1915.158, Lifesaving equipment (life rings and PFDs)
• 1915.159, Personal fall arrest systems (PFAS)
• 1915.160, Positioning device systems
• Subpart I Appendix B, General testing conditions and additional guidelines for
personal fall protection systems (Non-mandatory)

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 Marine Terminals (29 CFR 1917)
• 1917.12, Slippery conditions
• 1917.26, First aid and lifesaving facilities (life-rings)
• 1917.95, Other protective measures (Personal flotation devices)
• 1917.112, Guarding of edges
• 1917.115, Platforms and skids
• 1917.116, Elevators and escalators
• 1917.117, Manlifts
• 1917.118, Fixed ladders
• 1917.119, Portable ladders
• 1917.120, Fixed stairways
• 1917.121, Spiral stairways
• 1917.124, Dockboards (car and bridge plates)
• 1917.125, Guarding temporary hazards

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 Longshoring (29 CFR 1918)
• 1918.22, Gangways
• 1918.23, Jacob's ladders
• 1918.24, Fixed and portable ladders
• 1918.25, Bridge plates and ramps
• 1918.26, Access to barges and
river boats
• 1918.31, Hatch coverings
• 1918.32, Stowed cargo and
temporary landing surfaces
• 1918.33, Deck loads
• 1918.34, Other decks
• 1918.35, Open hatches
• 1918.36, Weather deck rails
• 1918.37, Barges
• 1918.85, Containerized cargo
operations; includes requirements for
fall protection
• 1918.87, Ship's cargo elevators
• 1918.97, First aid and lifesaving
facilities (life-rings)
• 1918.105, Other protective measures
(personal flotation devices)
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 WHAT IS A FALL HAZARD?
Fall hazards are present at most worksites and many workers are exposed to
these hazards on a daily basis. A fall hazard is anything at your worksite that
could cause you to lose your balance or lose bodily support and result in a fall.
Any walking or working surface can be a potential fall hazard.

Any time you are working at a height of four feet or more, you are at risk. OSHA
generally requires that fall protection be provided at four feet in general
industry, five feet in maritime and six feet in construction. However, regardless
of the fall distance, fall protection must be provided when working over
dangerous equipment and machinery. The importance of fall protection
cannot be stressed

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 Examples of Fall Hazards
• Unprotected sides, edges and floor holes & openings
• Improperly constructed walking/working surfaces
• Improper use of access equipment
• Failure to properly use PFAs
• Slips, trips & falls and poor housekeeping

Falls from as little as 4 to 6 feet can cause serious lost-time injuries and
sometimes death.

Open-sided floors and platforms must be guarded.

Construction: 6 feet or more in height
Maritime: 5 feet or more in height
General Industry: 4 feet or more in height

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 Fall Hazards Can Be Prevented Using
Fall Prevention, Fall Restraint & Fall Arrest

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 What's the difference between different types of fall protection?
  Fall Prevention Fall Restraint Fall Arrest
Prevents people from reaching the Prevents people from reaching a
fall hazard by creating a barrier Stops a fall that is in progress
How does it protect? between the person and the fall fall hazard through a tie off through a tie off system.
system.
hazard.
Equipment Needed No individual equipment Custom fitted equipment Custom fitted equipment
Training Needed None Yes, extensive and ongoing Yes, extensive and ongoing
Inspection After Install and Annually Every Use by the Individual Every use by the individual
Must be inspected and cared Must be inspected and cared
Maintenance Annually
before and after every use. before and after every use.
Potential for Injury None Mild High
Lower initial costs but hidden
Lower initial costs but hidden costs
Costs Higher up front costs. might be: training, equipment costs might be: training,
equipment replacement, and
maintenance, and setup time. setup time.
Must inspect and properly wear Must inspect and properly wear
Burden to Laborer Little to none. their equipment. their equipment.
OSHA Preference Preferred because there is the Better than fall arrest.  
least risk.
A harness and lanyard tied off at a
Example Products Guardrails and Skylight Screens set length from a weighted tie off A harness and retractable tied off
point. to an anchor point.

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 Fall Distance
6 Foot Lanyard with Decelarator Retractable Lifeline aka YoYo with
AKA: Shock Absorber Decelarator AKA: Shock Absorber

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 Anatomy of a Fall
How fast can you fall? You may think that you can catch
yourself before falling too far and too much damage is done.

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ELAPSED FREE FALL SPEED
TIME (SEC) DISTANCE FT/SEC HUMAN RESPONSE
0.1 2” 3.3 Unaware
0.2 8” 7.0 Aware
0.3 18” (1.5’) 10.0 Aware
0.4 31” 13.0 Reflex
0.5 48” (4’) 16.0 Start to move
0.6 70” 19.3 Start to move
0.61 72” (6’) 19.6 Slight movement
0.7 95” 23.0 Slight movement
0.8 124” 26.0 Movement
0.9 156” 29.0 Movement
1.0 193” (16’) 32.0 Movement
2.0 773” (64’) 64.0 Movement

Note: “Start to move” and “Slight movement” do NOT equate to reaching out and
grabbing something. By the time you have conscience, controlled movement 8/10ths
(or more) of a second have passed and you have already fallen roughly 10.3’ (124”)!

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 Two Factors Influence Falls
• Body Weight (W)
• Free Fall Distance (D)
• Forces = W x D
• A 215 pound worker with 6 pounds of tools who falls 6 feet can
generate fall forces of 1,290 pounds across a person’s body
• Without adequate deceleration or shock absorbers this could
cause serious injuries.

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Fall Hazards Examples
• Roofs
• Wall Openings
• Excavations
• Rebar Hazards
• Floor Holes and Openings

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Roofs

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 Shock Absorbing
Lanyard

Full Body
Harness

Rope Lifeline Anchor

Grab Point

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Wall Openings

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Top-rail at 42”

Mid-rail at 21”

Toeboard min. 3-1/2”

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Wall openings greater than 18” need to be protected

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Rebar Hazards

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Falling on
exposed rebar

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Falling on
exposed rebar

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Floor Holes

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Unguarded Floor Openings

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Unguarded
Stair Opening

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41
 Holes
• Must be covered
• By material that leaves no openings more than 1 inch wide. The
cover shall be securely held in place to prevent tools or material from
falling through.
• Guardrails
• May be used in accordance with applicable standards

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43
 Alternate Work Methods

Employers have the option of having workers work from scaffolds

(in compliance with Subpart L), ladders (in compliance with
Subpart X) or aerial lifts (in compliance with 29 CFR 1926.453)
instead of complying with 1926.501(b)(13).

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 Scaffolds

Climbing the structural cross-braces of a scaffold is a hazard, and

forbidden by OSHA. 

Safe access options include: portable ladders,

hook-on ladders, attachable ladders, stair towers, stairway-type
ladders, ramps, walkways, or built-in ladders.

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 Direct Access

Direct access to or from

another surface shall
only be used when the
scaffold is not more than
14 inches horizontally
and 24 inches vertically
from the other surface.

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Scaffold Types
• Supported
• Fabricated Frame
• Tube & Coupler
• Wall Brackets
• Form Brackets
• Ladder Jacks
• Pump Jacks
• Suspended
• Swings
• Multi-point
• Catenary
• Boatswain Chair
• Aerial Lifts
• Extensible Boom Platforms
• Aerial Ladders
• Articulating Boom Platforms
• Vertical Tower
• Combination

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Supported Scaffolds

Bakers / Perry Scaffolds

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 Other Work Methods

Here is an example of a wall bracket,

or top plate, scaffold system. Some
contractors are using these systems
for rolling trusses, cutting rafter tails
and hanging fascia.

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Other Work Methods

Pump-jack Scaffold

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 Other Work Methods

Extensible Boom Aerial Lift All-terrain forklift with

basket attachment

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 Other Work Methods

• Extensible Boom Aerial Lift

• Alternative for reaching heights if properly used
• PFAS or fall restraint must be worn and lanyard
attached to boom or basket when working from
an aerial lift - 1926.453(b)(2)(v)

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Other Work Methods - Ladders

Step Ladder

Platform Ladders

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 The ABC’s of
Personal Fall
Arrest Systems
(PFAS)

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The A

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 The Anchor

Anchorages used for attachment of personal fall

arrest equipment must be independent of any
anchorage being used to support or suspend
platforms, and capable of supporting at least 5,000
pounds per employee attached, or must be
designed and used as follows:
As part of a complete personal fall arrest system
which maintains a safety factor of at least two.
Under the supervision of a qualified person.

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 Improper Anchor Points
• Standard Guardrails • Roofstacks, vents
• Standard Railings • Joists, girders (unless qualified
• Ladder/Rungs person allows same)
• Scaffolding
• Light fixtures
• Conduit or Plumbing
• Ductwork or Pipe Vents
• Pipe Hangers
• C-Clamps
• Cable Trays
• Another lanyard

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The B = Body Harness

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 The Body Harness
Body harnesses are designed to minimize
stress forces on an employee's body in the
event of a fall, while providing sufficient
freedom of movement to allow work to be
performed.
Do not use body harnesses to hoist materials.
As of January 1, 1998, body belts are not
acceptable as part of a personal fall arrest
system, because they impose a danger of
internal injuries when stopping a fall.

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 The Body Harness

• Need to be inspected frequently

• Daily before use by the worker 502(d)(21)
• Recommend monthly inspections by Competent Person
• Should never be modified
• Should be taken out of service immediately if
defective or exposed to an impact 502 (d)(9)

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 Proper Adjustment is Key

• Be able to reach your D-Ring with your thumb

• Maximum four (flat) fingers of slack at the legs,
straps as high as comfortably possible
• Ensure chest strap is across the chest/breastbone
• Have a buddy double check for twist…etc.

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Adequate Anchorages are Crucial

• 29 CFR 1926 Subpart M Appendix C (h):

OSHA’s stance on importance of anchorage points
• Planning by employer is VITAL
• No planning – employees tend to find their own
anchorage or don’t use any
• Must support 5000 pounds per employee attached

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 Use of Eye Bolts

• Rated for loading

parallel to the bolt axis
• If wall mounted, the
rating perpendicular
to the axis must be
good for 5,000lbs per
employee.

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The C

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 The Connectors
Connectors, including D-rings and snaphooks, must be made from
drop-forged, pressed or formed steel, or equivalent materials.
They must have a corrosion-resistant finish, with smooth surfaces
and edges to prevent damage to connecting parts of the system.

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 Connector (Lanyards)

• Should be inspected before each use

• Should not be tied back to themselves
• Should be worn with timpact
absorber/shock pack at the D-ring
• Should have the appropriate clip for the
intended anchorage points

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 Retractable Lifelines
• Very effective for vertical applications
• Will normally lock up in 1 to 2 feet,
minimizing total fall distance and
impact forces on the employee’s body

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 SRL and Deceleration Devices
• Self retracting lifelines which limit free fall to 2’ or <
must capable of sustaining minimum tensile load of
3000lbs to device is fully extended position
• SRL which don’t limit fall to 2’ or < ripstich lanyards and
tearing type lanyards must maintain min tensile load of
5,000lbs to lifeline/lanyard in fully extended position

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Do Not Hook Lanyards to Retractables

• This can cause hook failures and affect the locking capability of
the retractable
• The retractable should be attached directly to the D-ring
• No plan for SWING factor in the event of a fall.

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 Review
• What are the 4 greatest hazards in construction?
• At what height must we have fall prevention or fall protection in:
• Construction
• Maritime
• General Industry
• Name 3 alternate work methods to help eliminate or reduce the
risk of falls.
• What are the A, B, C of a personal fall arrest system?

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 Review
• What are the 4 greatest hazards in construction?
Falls, Struck By, Caught By/In, Electrical
• At what height must we have fall prevention or fall protection in:
• Construction 6ft
• Maritime 5ft
• General Industry 4ft
• Name 3 alternate work methods to help eliminate or reduce the risk of falls?
Scaffolds, Aerial Lifts, & Ladders
• What are the A, B, C of a personal fall arrest system?
Anchor Point, Body Harness, Connectors

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